Table 3.
Comparison of hypoxemic and non-hypoxemic hospitalized Malawian children
| SpO2 ≥90% (n = 721) | SpO2 <90% (n = 40) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient characteristic | |||
| Age (months) [median (IQR)] | 27.3 (12.6–48.8) | 12.2 (4.0–33.6) | <0.001 |
| Female [n (%)] | 309 (42.9) | 16 (40.0) | NS |
| Presenting symptoms | |||
| Respiratory [n/N (%)] | |||
| Cough | 227/286 (79.4) | 27/28 (96.4) | 0.024 |
| Difficulty breathing | 80/156 (51.3) | 14/14 (100.0) | <0.001 |
| Non-respiratory [n/N (%)] | |||
| Fever | 573/580 (98.8) | 25/25 (100.0) | NS |
| Vomiting | 180/275 (65.5) | 2/8 (25.0) | 0.026 |
| Diarrhea | 96/211 (45.5) | 5/8 (62.5) | NS |
| Convulsions | 136/285 (47.7) | 5/19 (26.3) | NS |
| Not drinking | 64/204 (31.4) | 4/14 (28.6) | NS |
| Pallor | 248/307 (80.8) | 8/9 (88.9) | NS |
| Presenting signs | |||
| Respiratory [n/N (%)] | |||
| Tachypnea for age | 400/720 (55.6) | 33/40 (82.5) | <0.001 |
| Chest indrawing | 200/716 (27.9) | 35/40 (87.5) | <0.001 |
| Grunting | 1/721 (0.1) | 1/40 (2.5) | NS |
| Nasal flaring | 86/721 (11.9) | 18/40 (45.0) | <0.001 |
| Head nodding | 1/721 (0.1) | 1/40 (2.5) | NS |
| Non-respiratory | |||
| Weight-for-height Z-score [mean ± SD] | −0.41±1.47 | −0.29±1.58 | NS |
| Weight-for-height Z-score ≥2 SD below median [n/N (%)] | 67/538 (12.5) | 7/33 (21.2) | NS |
| MUAC Z-score [mean ± SD] | −0.94±1.23 | −0.92±1.26 | NS |
| MUAC ≥2 SD below median [n/N (%)] | 80/535 (15.0) | 8/25 (32.0) | 0.022 |
| Temperature ≥37.5°C [n/N (%)] | 251/720 (34.9) | 17/40 (42.5) | NS |
| Tachycardic for age [n/N (%)] | 494/720 (68.6) | 25/40 (62.5) | NS |
| Lethargy [n/N (%)] | 326/720 (45.3) | 29/40 (72.5) | 0.001 |
| Skin pinch ≥2 s [n/N (%)] | 6/718 (0.8) | 1/40 (2.5) | NS |
| Blantyre coma scale ≤3 [n/N (%)] | 25/707 (3.5) | 3/38 (7.9) | NS |
MUAC: mid-upper arm circumference; NS: not significant; SpO2: peripheral oxygen saturation.